Here's Chucky: Gruden replaces Kornheiser on MNF

FILE - This Dec. 29, 2008, file photo shows former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden grimaces as he speaks during his weekly news conference in Tampa, Fla. Gruden is replacing Tony Kornheiser on ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast team. The network said Monday May 18, 2009, that Gruden will be in the booth with Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski when the show starts its 40th season this fall. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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FILE - This Dec. 29, 2008, file photo shows former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden grimaces as he speaks during his weekly news conference in Tampa, Fla. Gruden is replacing Tony Kornheiser on ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast team. The network said Monday May 18, 2009, that Gruden will be in the booth with Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski when the show starts its 40th season this fall. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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"There's a lot of reports out there," Gruden said. "I just wish some of these reports were verified."

The son of a former NFL and college coach, Gruden was fired after his team lost four straight games to miss the playoffs. He worked as a guest analyst this year with the NFL Network during the draft and scouting combine.

Gruden was an NFL head coach the past 11 seasons, with the Buccaneers (2002-08) and Oakland Raiders (1998-01). He had a 100-85 record, leading his teams to five division titles.

His best season came in 2002, when the Buccaneers went 12-4 and then beat the Raiders 48-21 in the Super Bowl. Gruden was 38 at the time and the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl. Tirico handed the Lombardi Trophy to Gruden in that postgame celebration.

Asked his favorite memory of MNF, Gruden immediately hummed the opening notes to the show's theme song. He recalled being young, trying to persuade his mom and dad to let him stay awake to watch the games end.

"I'm excited to tell my three boys they can stay up all night to watch Monday Night Football," Gruden said.